Locomotive boiler



y 14, 1929- c. G. HAWLEY 1,712,614

LOCOMOTIVE' BOILER Filed April 8, 1926 um lg n u M II II I W. n u u n Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE- CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, "ASSIGNOR TO LOOOMOTIVEFIRE BOX COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

LOOOMO'II'VE BOILER.

Application filed April 8,

This invention relates to improvements in locomotive boilers and its consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient means directly associated with the crown sheet of the boiler which operates in that part of the fall in boiler Water level, initially uncovering or exposing a part ofsaid crown sheet adjacent the flue sheet, to limit the same to an area which is safe in practice but will act to permit a leakage of a small amount of steam into the firebox,suflicient to be observed in the stoking of the firebox, thereby informing the fireman of the actual waterlevel in the boiler, irrespective of the level indicated by the'usual gages. i

A further object of the invention is to provide in the crown sheet, between predeter mined rows of'stay bolts, channels which ex tend longitudinally of the crown sheet and act as the water level falls to uncover the high spot or head oft-he crown sheet at the flue sheet end, to limit such spot or area to one of small dimensions and about the stay bolts of which, steam escapes into the firebox to be observed by the one stoking the firebox.

These objects of the invention as well as others, together with the many advantages thereof will more fully appear as I proceed withmy specification.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the firebox end of a locomotive boiler embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the same as taken. on the line 2-42 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. a

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View of parts shown in Fig. 2 and which will be more fully referred to later.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings :-1 indicates the back or door sheet of the firebox and 2 indicates the flue sheet thereof and forming a continuation of the flue sheet, is the inside throat sheet 3. The sides of the firebox are formed by the side sheets 4-4 and the top of the firebox is provided by the transversely arched or curved crown sheet 5 which merges into 1926. Serial No. 100,481.

known. The front and. rearwater legs 12 and 13 and the side water legs l4--14 are all closed at the bottom by a mud ring 15, while the: bottom of the firebox is formed by the grate lndicated by the dotted line 16 in Fig. 1." In the back head and. back sheet rcs'pectively is formed the fuel door opening L7 1 and extending forwardly from the flue sheet 2 are theflucs or tubes 18 through whiclrthe products of combustion from the firebox are drawn to the smoke box at the front end of the .boiler-(not shown) in the manner well known. The roof sheetand crown sheet are connected by the usual. stay bolts 19, as are the side sheetst and 9, throat sheets 3 and 10 and back sheets 1 and 18 respectively. The;

construction justdescribed istypicalsof that type of locomotive boiler now in general use and need not be described in greater detail.

In locomotive practice, the usual water level desired to be maintained, is such as to keep the crown sheet submerged at all times. However due to the amount of water generated into steam for the intended purpose of the locomotive,the water level falls. Gage glasses in the cab are intended to indicate the levels of the water but such devices are often inaccurate, not always due to any faulty con struction therein, but to certain boiler conditions such as surgings and foamings which will produce in the gage glasses, levels which do not correspond to the actual water level in the boiler. When the real water level falls below that point, good locomotive practice demands be maintained, the first part of the crown sheet to be uncovered thereby, is that point of highest elevation and which point is usually the head 6 of the crown sheet, which is located in the longitudinal median plane of the transversely curved crown sheet. Such a level as will uncover or expose this part of the crown sheet is best indicated at y 20 in Figs. 1 and 4.

To maintain or limit the uncovered or dry area of the crown sheet to one of as small dimensions as possible, I form in the crown sheet,longitudinal V shaped channeds 21-21 one on each side ofand adjacent the median plane of the crown sheet. The said channels uncovered'and dry spot will bedefined by portions of the channels which are filled with water asbest'shown' in Fig. 4. The front.

of said dry spot is defined by the front edge of the crown sheet-and'the rear-edge of the dry-spot is defined-by the waters edge as I best'shown inFig. 3 so that the dry spot 22 is one of such area as may be uncovered with i 7 safety. That partofthe crown sheet, thus uncovered becomes excessively hot and will fiexdn'wardly ofthe firebox thus pulling away from the stay bolts 19 within said area a condition is instantly visualized by the fireso that steam will escape in small quantities about said staybolts into the'firebox; Such man who will feed more water into the boiler to submerge the crown sheet head; With the entire. crown sheet submerged the danger of complete fracture thereof is eliminated but the loc'omotive is withdrawn from service 1 at-the first opportunity;-v

-It is pointed outthat the channels in the crown sheet not only thus act to define'or limitthesides of'said dry area but at the same timeact to rigidity thecrown sheet as is apparent.

- 'Wlnle in describing my invention,I have referred to certain details of construction as well as form and arrangement of parts thereof, I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A. locomotive boiler embodying therein, a firebox including a crown sheet and a flue sheet, said crown sheet being formed to provide channels therein which are deeper at the front ends where they open through the top portion of the flue sheet.

2. A locomotive boiler embodying therein, a firebox including a crown sheet and a flue sheet, said crown sheet being formed to rovide channels'therein which decrease in width and depth rearwardly from the flue sheet, said channels opening through the top portion of the flue sheet.

3. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a firebox including a stay bolted crown sheet and a flue sheet, said crown sheet being formed to provide longitudinal channels therein between adjacent rows of stay bolts which channels decrease in width and depth from the flue sheet rearward ly, said channels opening through the top portion of the.

. flue sheet.

7 sheet than atthe opposite end whereb a portion of the crown sheet is isolated w ien the water reaches a predetermined low level to actas a low water telltale.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 5th day of April, 1926.

. CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY. 

